U.S. patent application number 11/059254 was filed with the patent office on 2006-08-17 for water-resistant zipper with slider.
This patent application is currently assigned to ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.. Invention is credited to Zdenek MacHacek.
Application Number | 20060179620 11/059254 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36277438 |
Filed Date | 2006-08-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060179620 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
MacHacek; Zdenek |
August 17, 2006 |
Water-resistant zipper with slider
Abstract
A water-resistant zipper with interlocking profiles for a
reclosable bag is disclosed. The zipper includes a first profile
with upper and lower legs forming an engagement area therebetween.
The upper and lower legs terminate in hooks extending into said
engagement area. The lower leg further includes a downwardly
extending arm. The second profile includes a male detent element
which is detent engaged within the engagement area. The second
profile further includes a first post which urges against the
downwardly extending arm at all locations where the profiles are
captured within a slider, thereby maintaining a water-resistant
configuration. The second profile further includes a second post
which urges against the upper leg when the first and second
profiles are interlocked with each other.
Inventors: |
MacHacek; Zdenek; (Nanuet,
NY) |
Correspondence
Address: |
PITNEY HARDIN LLP;ACCOUNT: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
7 TIMES SQUARE
NEW YORK
NY
10036-7311
US
|
Assignee: |
ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
|
Family ID: |
36277438 |
Appl. No.: |
11/059254 |
Filed: |
February 16, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
24/400 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y10T 24/2534 20150115;
B65D 33/2591 20130101; Y10T 24/2532 20150115 |
Class at
Publication: |
024/400 |
International
Class: |
A44B 19/16 20060101
A44B019/16 |
Claims
1. A zipper for a reclosable bag, comprising: a first profile and a
second profile; said first profile including a first inwardly
extending leg and a second inwardly extending leg thereby forming
an engagement area therebetween; said first inwardly extending leg
terminating in a downwardly extending arm; said second profile
including an inwardly extending male element terminating in an
enlarged detent element received within said engagement area when
said first and second profiles are interlocked with each other;
said second profile further including a first post which, when said
first profile and said second profile are interlocked with each
other, urges against said downwardly extending arm, and, when
further pressed against said downwardly extending arm, bends said
first inwardly extending leg thereby releasing said enlarged detent
element from said engagement area; and a slider which interlocks
said first profile to said second profile when moved in a first
direction and which unlocks said first profile from said second
profile when moved in a second direction.
2. The zipper of claim 1 wherein said first inwardly extending leg
further terminates in a hook which extends into said engagement
area and said second inwardly extending leg terminates in a second
hook which extends into said engagement area whereby, when said
first profile and said second profile are interlocked with each
other, said first and second hooks engage said enlarged detent
element.
3. The zipper of claim 2 wherein said downwardly extending arm
terminates in an outwardly extending hook whereby, when said first
profile and said second profile are interlocked with each other,
said first post urges against a seat formed by said downwardly
extending arm and said outwardly extending hook thereby forming a
water-resistant configuration.
4. The zipper of claim 3 wherein said first post urges against said
seat thereby forming a water-resistant configuration at locations
where said first profile and said second profile are captured
within said slider.
5. A zipper for a reclosable bag, comprising: a first profile and a
second profile; said first profile including a first inwardly
extending leg and a second inwardly extending leg thereby forming
an engagement area therebetween; said first inwardly extending leg
terminating in a downwardly extending arm; said second profile
including an inwardly extending male element terminating in an
enlarged detent element received within said engagement area when
said first and second profiles are interlocked with each other;
said second profile further including a first post which, when said
first profile and said second profile are interlocked with each
other, urges against said downwardly extending arm, and, when
further pressed against said downwardly extending arm, bends said
first inwardly extending leg thereby releasing said enlarged detent
element from said engagement area; a slider which interlocks said
first profile to said second profile when moved in a first
direction and which unlocks said first profile from said second
profile when moved in a second direction: wherein said first
inwardly extending leg further terminates in a hook which extends
into said engagement area and said second inwardly extending leg
terminates in a second hook which extends into said engagement area
whereby, when said first profile and said second profile are
interlocked with each other, said first and second hooks engage
said enlarged detent element; wherein said downwardly extending arm
terminates in an outwardly extending hook whereby, when said first
profile and said second profile are interlocked with each other,
said first post urges against a seat formed by said downwardly
extending arm and said outwardly extending hook thereby forming a
water-resistant configuration; wherein said first post urges
against said seat thereby forming a water-resistant configuration
at locations where said first profile and said second profile are
captured within said slider; wherein said second profile further
includes a second post, whereby when said first profile and said
second profile are interlocked with each other, said second post is
urged against said second inwardly extending leg.
6. The zipper of claim 5 wherein said slider includes a top wall
with side walls extending therefrom, the interior of said side
walls forming an interlocking section, an unlocking section and a
separating section.
7. A zipper for a reclosable bag, comprising: a first profile and a
second profile; said first profile including a first inwardly
extending leg and a second inwardly extending leg thereby forming
an engagement area therebetween; said first inwardly extending leg
terminating in a downwardly extending arm; said second profile
including an inwardly extending male element terminating in an
enlarged detent element received within said engagement area when
said first and second profiles are interlocked with each other;
said second profile further including a first post which urges
against said downwardly extending arm when said first profile and
said second profile are interlocked with each other; a slider which
interlocks said first profile to said second profile when moved in
a first direction and which unlocks said first profile from said
second profile when moved in a second direction; wherein said first
inwardly extending leg further terminates in a hook which extends
into said engagement area and said second inwardly extending leg
terminates in a second hook which extends into said engagement area
whereby, when said first profile and said second profile are
interlocked with each other, said first and second hooks engage
said enlarged detent element; wherein said downwardly extending arm
terminates in an outwardly extending hook whereby, when said first
profile and said second profile are interlocked with each other,
said first post urges against a seat formed by said downwardly
extending arm and said outwardly extending hook thereby forming a
water-resistant configuration; wherein said first post urges
against said seat thereby forming a water-resistant configuration
at locations where said first profile and said second profile are
captured within said slider; wherein said second profile further
includes a second post, whereby when said first profile and said
second profile are interlocked with each other, said second post is
urged against said second inwardly extending leg; wherein said
slider includes a top wall with side walls extending therefrom, the
interior of said side walls forming an interlocking section, an
unlocking section and a separating section; and wherein said
interlocking section has a cross-sectional shape of an truncated
triangle with a relatively smaller end formed at an interior of
said top wall; said unlocking section has a cross-sectional shape
of an inverted truncated triangle with a relatively larger end
formed at an interior of said top wall; and said separating section
has a cross-sectional shape wherein an interior of said side walls
are relatively parallel to each other.
8. The zipper of claim 7 wherein said side walls of said slider
terminate in first and second inwardly extending flanges
immediately below said first and second profiles, respectively, in
said interlocking section and said separating sections.
9. The zipper of claim 8 wherein, in said separating section, said
second inwardly extending flange is upwardly offset and an interior
of said top wall includes a recess above said second profile,
thereby urging said second profile upwardly with respect to said
first profile and separating said first profile from said second
profile.
10. The zipper of claim 9 wherein ends of said first profile are
sealed to ends of said second profile thereby forming end
stops.
11. The zipper of claim 10 wherein said end stops include an
inclined surface to urge said slider upwardly as said slider is
urged toward said end stops.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] This invention pertains to a zipper for a reclosable bag,
wherein the zipper is water-resistant.
[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0004] In the prior art, it is well known to use zippers and
sliders in reclosable bags. These reclosable bags have been
particularly useful for containing and transporting dry materials,
such as snack foods. While these reclosable bags have been
satisfactory for their intended uses, the need has arisen for the
containment and transportation of liquids. However, many prior art
zippers have not held liquids securely. Therefore, improvements are
desired in the use of zippers and sliders for the containment and
transportation of liquids.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] It is therefore an object of the present invention to
provide a zipper with a slider which is water-resistant and
therefore suitable for reclosable bags intended for the containment
and transportation of liquids.
[0006] This and other objects are attained by providing a zipper
with a male profile and a female profile. The zipper further
includes a slider. The male profile includes first and second posts
and a male detent element therebetween. The female profile includes
two legs terminating in inwardly extending hooks thereby forming an
engagement area for receiving the male detent element. One of the
legs of the female profile includes a downwardly extending arm. In
the interlocked or closed position, the male element is received
with the engagement area and a first water-resistant engagement is
formed between the upper post of the male profile and the upper arm
of the female profile. Additionally, at all positions where the
zipper is captured within the slider, a water-resistant engagement
is formed between the distal end of the lower post of the male
profile and the downwardly extending arm of the female profile. The
slider opens the zipper firstly by pressing the lower post of the
male profile against the downwardly extending arm of the female
profile thereby releasing the male detent element from the
engagement area, and secondly by displacing the male profile
upwards thereby separating the profiles from each other.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] Further objects and advantages of the invention will become
apparent from the following description and from the accompanying
drawings, wherein:
[0008] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the interlocked profiles
of the zipper of the present invention.
[0009] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the slider of the present
invention.
[0010] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view along plane 3-3 of FIG. 2,
illustrating the interlocking section of the slider.
[0011] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view along plane 44 of FIG. 2,
illustrating the unlocking section of the slider.
[0012] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view along plane 5-5 of FIG. 2,
illustrating the separating section of the slider.
[0013] FIG. 6 illustrates the orientation of the profiles in the
unlocking section of the slider.
[0014] FIG. 7 illustrates the orientation and directions of motion
of the profiles in the separating section of the slider.
[0015] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the end stop of the zipper
of the present invention.
[0016] FIG. 9 illustrates the orientation and directions of motion
of the profiles when the slider is urged upwardly by the end
stop.
[0017] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of an additional
embodiment of the zipper of the present embodiment.
[0018] FIG. 11 is an alternative cross-sectional view along plane
3-3 of FIG. 2, showing the slider including an internal finger, and
additionally showing the profiles of the zipper in the separated
configuration.
[0019] FIG. 12 is an alternative cross-sectional view along plane
1-1 of FIG. 2, showing the slider including an internal finger, and
additionally showing the profiles of the zipper in the interlocked
configuration.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0020] Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein like
numerals refer to like elements throughout the several views, one
sees that FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of zipper 10 comprising
first (or female) interlocking profile 12 and second (or male)
interlocking profile 14. First (or female) interlocking profile 12
includes body 16 extending from base 17 and terminating in first
upper inwardly inclined element 19. First interlocking profile 12
further includes upper female leg 18 extending inwardly and
terminating in downwardly extending female hook 20. First
interlocking profile 10 further includes lower female leg 22
extending inwardly and terminating in upwardly extending female
hook 24 and downwardly extending arm 26. Downwardly extending arm
26 terminates in outwardly extending hook 28. Engagement area 29 is
formed between upper and lower legs 18, 22.
[0021] First flange 30 extends inwardly and downwardly from base 17
of first interlocking profile 12.
[0022] Second (or female) interlocking profile 14 includes body 34
extending from base 36 and terminating in second upper inwardly
inclined element 38. In the configuration of FIG. 1, body 16 and
body 34 are inclined with respect to each other in an A-type shape.
Second interlocking profile 14 further includes upper inwardly
extending post 40 which, when first and second profiles 12, 14 are
in an interlocked configuration, urges against upper female leg 18
in a water-resistant configuration and lower inwardly extending
post 42 which urges against the seat of downwardly extending arm 26
and outwardly extending hook 28 in a water-resistant configuration.
The water-resistant configuration of lower inwardly extending post
42 against the seat of downwardly extending arm 26 and outwardly
extending hook 28 is maintained throughout all locations where the
first and second profiles 12, 14 are captured within slider 60.
Second interlocking profile 14 further includes intermediate
inwardly extending male element 44 which terminates in an enlarged
detent head 45 comprising upwardly extending male hook 46 and
downwardly extending male hook 48. In the interlocked configuration
of first and second profiles 12, 14 as shown in FIG. 1, male hooks
46, 48 are received within engagement area 29 whereby upwardly
extending male hook 46 engages downwardly extending female hook 20
and downwardly extending male hook 48 engages upwardly extending
female hook 24.
[0023] Second flange 50 extends inwardly and downwardly from base
36 of second interlocking profile 14. Flanges 30, 50 are sealed to
the front and rear walls of a reclosable plastic bag (not
shown).
[0024] As shown in FIG. 10, an alternative embodiment may achieve a
more robust water-resistant configuration by providing hook 41 on
the end of upper inwardly extending post 40 to engage a second hook
21 on upper leg 18.
[0025] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the slider 60 which is moved
in a first direction to interlock first and second profiles 12, 14
with each other and in a second direction to disengage first and
second profiles 12, 14 from each other. Slider 60 includes top wall
62, downwardly extending walls 64, 66, and inwardly extending
flanges 68, 70 at bottom ends of respective side walls 64, 66.
Profile engaging area 72 formed between side walls 64, 66 has a
varying profile as shown in the cross-sectional views of FIGS. 3-5.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view wherein the interior of side walls
64, 66 forms a truncated triangular or A-shaped area thereby
forming an interlocking section for engaging the first and second
profiles 12, 14 with each other. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view
wherein the interior of side walls 64, 66 forms an inverted
truncated substantially triangular or V-shaped area thereby forming
an unlocking section for disengaging the first and second profiles
12, 14 from each other. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view wherein
the interior of side walls 64, 66 forms a substantially square area
with recess 74 on a portion of the interior of the top wall 62 so
that the upward offset of inwardly extending flange 70 in this
cross-sectional view forces profile 14 upwardly so as to separate
form profile 12.
[0026] An alternative embodiment of slider 60 is illustrated in
FIGS. 11 and 12 (including first and second profiles 12, 14)
corresponding to FIGS. 3 and 5, respectively, which further
includes separating finger 76 in a central portion of an interior
of top wall 62.
[0027] In the cross-sectional view of FIG. 3, first and second
profiles 12, 14 are interlocked in an A-type configuration as shown
in FIG. 1. As slider 60 is moved such that the interlocked first
and second profiles 12, 14 pass from the interlocking section
illustrated in FIG. 3 to the unlocking section illustrated in FIG.
4, slider 60 forces the zipper 10 from the interlocked A-type shape
to an unlocked V-type shape. This motion is illustrated in FIG. 6.
The configuration of side walls 64, 66 in FIG. 4 unlocks first and
second profiles 12, 14 from each other by pulling detent head 45
comprised of male hooks 46, 48 (attached to intermediate inwardly
extending male element 44) out of engagement with engagement area
29. This configuration further presses the zipper 10 toward the top
of the slider 60.
[0028] As slider is subsequently moved from the unlocking section
illustrated in FIG. 4 to the separating section illustrated in FIG.
5, the upward offset of inwardly extending flange 70 forces flange
14 upwardly into recess 74. This motion is illustrated in FIG.
7.
[0029] When zipper 10 is closed, the interlocking first and second
profiles 12, 14 are interlocked in an A-type configuration as shown
in FIG. 1. Upper and lower inwardly extending posts 40, 42 of
profile 14 are in full contact with upper female leg 18 and the
seat of downwardly extending arm 26 and outwardly extending hook
28, respectively, in water-resistant configurations. Slider 60 is
positioned with the interlocking section of FIG. 3 facing the
interlocked first and second profiles 12, 14. Moving the slider 60
toward the interlocked first and second profiles 12, 14 unlocks the
first and second profiles 12, 14 by urging them to a V-shape as
shown in FIG. 4 thereby causing lower inwardly extending post 42 to
press on downwardly extending arm 26, thereby bending lower female
leg 22 thereby releasing upwardly extending female hook 24 from
downwardly extending male hook 48. These combined actions unlock
the first and second profiles 12, 14 from each other and separate
upwardly extending male hook 46 from downwardly extending female
hook 20. When the first and second profiles 12, 14 are passed to
the separating section of FIG. 5, profile 14 is urged upwardly as
described hereinabove thereby separating first and second profiles
12, 14. For all locations where profiles 12, 14 are captured within
slider 60, lower inwardly extending post 42 is in full contact with
downwardly extending arm 26, thereby making zipper 10
water-resistant.
[0030] As shown in FIG. 8, the longitudinal ends of first and
second profiles 12, 14 are terminated and joined by end stop 80.
End stop 80 includes inclined surface 82 reaching plateau 84 above
the level of the first and second profiles 12, 14. This results in
a stronger end stop 80 and can be configured to urge the slider 60
upwards as slider engages inclined surface 82 thereby urging first
and second profiles 12, 14 upwards as shown in FIG. 9.
[0031] Thus the several aforementioned objects and advantages are
most effectively attained. Although a preferred embodiment of the
invention has been disclosed and described in detail herein, it
should be understood that this invention is in no sense limited
thereby and its scope is to be determined by that of the appended
claims.
* * * * *